Remote control of vehicle functionalities by means of a mobile terminal

Abstract

A system and method for remote control of functionalities of a vehicle, for example a motor vehicle reserved for hire, is provided. The system and method include transmission and receipt of information between a mobile terminal, a remote vehicle management system and a control unit of a vehicle to remotely control, particularly to remotely initiate, particular functionalities of a vehicle which has been selected, particularly reserved, in advance using the vehicle management system. The mobile terminal is identified to the vehicle on the basis of an interchange of identifiers that the vehicle and the terminal have received in advance from the vehicle management system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A control system for a vehicle, comprising:
 a control unit; 
 a first communication interface configured to communicate via a first communication link to a remote vehicle management system; 
 a second communication interface configured to communicate via a second communication link to a mobile terminal; and 
 at least one control interface configured to control actuation of at least one vehicle component to trigger or alter at least one predetermined vehicle functionality; 
 wherein
 the control unit is configured to
 obtain identification information (DI) from the vehicle management system via the first communication interface, 
 output a first identifier incorporating the identification information via the second communication interface, 
 obtain a second identifier from a mobile terminal via the second communication interface; 
 determine whether the second identifier corresponds to the first identifier according to a first predetermined rule; and 
 control the at least one control interface to actuate at least one of the at least one vehicle components if the second identifier corresponds to the first identifier according to the first predetermined rule, 
 
 the identification information includes a cryptographic key, 
 the second communication link is a bidirectional communication link, 
 the control unit is configured to act as a terminal station of the bidirectional communication link via the second communication interface, 
 the mobile terminal is configured to act as a remote terminal station of the bidirectional communication link, and 
 the bidirectional communication link is encrypted using the cryptographic key from included in the identification information. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to determine the at least one predetermined vehicle functionality on the basis of the identification information. 
 
     
     
       3. The control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one predetermined vehicle functionality includes at least one of
 activation of at least one illuminant of the vehicle, 
 termination of the output of the first identifier, 
 unlocking of a locking system of the vehicle, 
 deactivation of an engine immobilizer of the vehicle, 
 output of an audible or visual signal, and 
 starting of an engine or of another actuator of the vehicle. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The control system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein
 the unlocking of a locking system of the vehicle includes active opening of a vehicle closure secured with the locking system. 
 
     
     
       5. The control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to initiate setup of the encrypted bidirectional communication link after obtaining the second identifier via the second communication interface and determining the second identifier corresponds to the first identifier according to a first predetermined rule. 
 
     
     
       6. The control system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to
 to generate a random piece of information, 
 transmit the random piece of information to the mobile terminal via the encrypted communication link, 
 receive via the encrypted communication link a third identifier from the mobile terminal; 
 determine whether the third identifier corresponds to the random piece of information according to a second predetermined rule; and 
 control the at least one control interface to actuate at least one of the at least one vehicle components if the third identifier corresponds to the random piece of information according to the second predetermined rule. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The control system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to
 receive via the encrypted bidirectional communication link a fourth identifier from the mobile terminal; and 
 transmit via the encrypted bidirectional communication link a fifth identifier corresponding to the fourth identifier according to a third predetermined rule to the mobile terminal. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to
 receive via the at least one control interface a sensor signal from at least one sensor of the vehicle, 
 determine whether the received sensor signal satisfies a predetermined criterion, and 
 control the at least one control interface to actuate at least one of the at least one vehicle components if the received sensor signal satisfies the predetermined criterion. 
 
 
     
     
       9. A vehicle, comprising:
 the control system as claimed in  claim 1 ; and 
 the at least one vehicle component configured to provide the at least one predetermined vehicle functionality, 
 wherein the control system controls the at least one vehicle component to trigger or alter the at least one predetermined vehicle functionality via the at least one control interface. 
 
     
     
       10. A control system for a vehicle, comprising:
 a control unit; 
 a first communication interface configured to communicate via a first communication link to a remote vehicle management system; 
 a second communication interface configured to communicate via a second communication link to a mobile terminal; 
 at least one control interface configured to control actuation of at least one vehicle component to trigger or alter at least one predetermined vehicle functionality; and 
 a locating apparatus, 
 wherein
 the control unit is configured to
 obtain identification information (IDI) from the vehicle management system via the first communication interface, 
 output a first identifier incorporating the identification information via the second communication interface, 
 obtain a second identifier from a mobile terminal via the second communication interface, 
 determine whether the second identifier corresponds to the first identifier according to a first predetermined rule, and 
 control the at least one control interface to actuate at least one of the at least one vehicle components if the second identifier corresponds to the first identifier according to the first predetermined rule, 
 
 the locating apparatus is configured to
 obtain a signal transmitted by the mobile terminal, 
 use the signal to identify a location of the mobile terminal in a local environment of the vehicle, and 
 transmit the location of the mobile terminal to the control unit, and 
 
 the control unit is configured to determine the at least one predetermined vehicle functionality on the basis of the position of the mobile terminal ascertained by the locating apparatus. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The control system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein
 the locating apparatus is configured to determine the location of the mobile terminal in a zone-based manner in which the position of the mobile terminal is associated with a zone in the local environment of the vehicle, and 
 the control unit is configured to determine the at least one predetermined vehicle functionality on the basis of the zone associated with the position of the mobile terminal. 
 
     
     
       12. A vehicle management system, comprising:
 at least one data processing unit having a computer program configured to
 electronically provision, via a communication network, information that represents at least one option for the selection and management of a selected vehicle; 
 receive management data transmitted via the communication network that represent a selection and management of a vehicle according to the at least one option and also an identity or network address of a mobile terminal; 
 produce identification information that contains a first identifier, a second identifier and a cryptographic key; 
 send the identification information to the vehicle identified by the management data and to the mobile terminal, in each case via an appropriate communication link, wherein the identification information enables the vehicle to verify a request from the mobile terminal for triggering or altering at least one predetermined vehicle functionality. 
 
 
     
     
       13. A method for operating a mobile terminal that has at least one communication device for wireless communication with a remote party and a user interface configured to capture inputs from a user and to output information to the user, comprising the acts of:
 outputting to the user interface information representing at least one option for selection and management of a vehicle; 
 capturing a user input on the user interface corresponding to one of the options for selection and management of the vehicle; 
 transmitting from the at least one communication device of the mobile terminal data denoting the captured user input to a remote vehicle management system; 
 receiving via the at least one communication device identification information from the vehicle management system containing a first identifier, a second identifier and a cryptographic key; 
 receiving from a reserved vehicle via the at least one communication device the first identifier; and 
 transmitting via the at least one communication device the second identifier from the mobile terminal to the reserved vehicle. 
 
     
     
       14. The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein
 the act of transmitting the second identifier from the mobile terminal to the reserved vehicle is triggered by at least one of
 immediately or at a defined interval of time receipt by the mobile terminal of the identification information, 
 after a physical distance of the mobile terminal from the reserved vehicle being below a predetermined threshold distance; and 
 after receipt of the first identifier by the mobile terminal. 
 
 
     
     
       15. A computer program fixed in a tangible medium configured to control execution on a mobile terminal of the method as claimed in  claim 13 .